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https://reneweconomy.com.au/victoria-extends-gas-ban-to-all-new-homes-and-hot-water-systems-sets-strict-rules-to-electrify-rentals/>
"Victorian households will, from May 2027, be required to replace end-of-life
gas hot water systems with heat pumps or other efficient alternatives under a
range of new electrification regulations unveiled by the state Labor government
on Tuesday.
The rule changes will also require all new homes and most commercial buildings
to be built all-electric by January 2027, in a move the Allan Labor government
says will cut home energy bills by $880 a year, or $1,820 if they have solar.
The new home electrification rules, which build on the Victorian Labor
government’s Gas Substitution Roadmap, were unveiled on Tuesday as part of a
Gas Security Statement, setting out a range of measures to avoid potential gas
supply shortfalls as coal exits the grid.
The measures, which pull a mix of supply and demand levers, have disappointed
somewhat on the demand side of the equation, falling short of placing a blanket
ban on replacement gas heaters in existing homes, alongside gas hot water.
Legislation requiring existing gas heaters and hot water systems to be replaced
with efficient electric alternatives at end-of-life was pitched as the
government’s favoured approach in a Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) published
in December 2024.
It now seems that a more gently gently approach will be taken to phasing gas
out of existing homes – an outcome that may or may not have been influenced by
vocal campaigns by opposition and industry lobby groups that were well
supported in some parts of the mainstream media.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Allan government says electric hot water systems
are “often cheaper” up front than gas systems, with rebates available from the
newly boosted Victorian Energy Upgrades scheme as well as Solar Victoria
programs of up to $1,400.
Solar Victoria recently boosted its rebates for electric hot water systems,
adding an extra $400 to the total subsidy if the system purchased is made in
Australia.
But the new rules do make a welcome exception for rental homes, where both gas
hot water systems and gas heaters must be replaced with efficient electric
alternatives at end of life."
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*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
